Feeding-chain



F. H. CLEMENT, DECD.- L. s., u. 6. mm a. n. cwmn. EXECUTORS.

FEEDING CHAIN.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. I919. 1,371,968. Patented Mar. 15,1921.

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L A @III I 1. w M H i J A V i ATTORNEY v F. H. CLEMENT, DECD. L. 5.. I. 6. AND B. H- CLEMENT. EXECUTORS.

FEEDING CHAIN.

- APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, "H9. 1,371,968. Patented Mar. 15,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET-Z.

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INVENTOR- Haw/I fl Claw/015' unrreo S ATES. PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. CLEMENT, OF ROCHESTER,-NEW' YORK; LOUISA S. CLEMENT, MARY G;

CLEMENT, AND BENJ. H. CLEMENT, EXECUTORS OF SAID FRANK H. CLEMENT DECEASED, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN VOODWORKING- MACHINERY COMPANY:

OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORECRATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FEEDING-CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Application filed May 27,- 1919. Serial No. 300,150.

To all whom it may cone-em Be it known that I, FRANK H. CLEMENT, a citizen of United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in F ceding-Chains, of which the following is specification.

My invention relates to endless chains used in various machinesrequiring an automatic and continuous feed, such as wood working and similar machinery and it consists in a novel construction of traveling chains and in the application thereto of retreating feeding dogs or lugs, by which stock of difierent widths and lengths may be fed in; and it further consists in means of adjusting the dogs longitudinally to the links and in accompanying devices for carrying out the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved feeding chain: Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing the feeding dog elevated to working position and other details; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the feeding dog in its lowered position: Fig. 4. is a plan view of the same: Fig. 5 is a cross section of the adjustable eccentric and Fig. 6 is an elevation of a side plate of the main links. Fig. 7 is a cross section of a track in which the improved chain may run.

Heretofore when positive feeding dogs have been required on feeding chains, it has been usual to attach them to the links by rivets or bolts. does not require accuracy of position, but is impracticable when a close adjustment is necessary. In the use of automatic feeding chains, especially in many wood working machines, it is often necessary to place the positive feeding dogs several links apart to receive wide or long material, but frequently every link must have a dog for narrow or short stock: furthermore in very many automatic feeders two chains are used and it is necessary that an exact transverse alinement of opposite feeding dogs be maintained in order to work the material square with one edge. I accomplish both these objects by means of the devices described below.

In the drawings A, A, Figs. 1. 2 and 6, are the side plates of the main links and This answers for work that B, B, are the connecting links: C, C, are oint pins fitted tightly into the side plates A and easily into links B. When the chain 1s assembled these pins are riveted over slightly on their ends to hold them in posltion. The connecting links B are hardened after fitting and pins C are also hardened except the ends where they are to be riveted.

For the purpose of economy, I use cold drawn steel for the sides of the main links A, (see Fig. 6), because this material is true and parallel on sides and edges and affords facility for attaching the detail parts of my invention at a low cost. The connectin link B is of a similar material and is pre .erably square in section and can be hardened and thus adapted to work in connection with the hardened steel joint pins C. Another advantage of this chain construction 1s that the completed chain needs no further machining or fitting to run in a grooved track E, Fig. 7 as is necessary for accurate work and thus the final cost is much less than as though each link required separate machining on sides and edges.

D is a feeding dog or lug which is fitted to pass freely between the two side plate A, A, of the main links and is pivoted at one end to an eccentric 2 by means of a slot 3 and a cover plate 4. This cover plate is secured to the dog by screws 5' and is so fitted as to press against the eccentric and The feeding face 6 of the dog D is machined square with the line of the chain both transversely thereto, and vertically to its working face, when it is in its extreme outward position as in Fig. 2. Through a slot in the dog D there passes a screw 8 which is threaded into a bar 9, Figs. 2 and 3. This bar is preferably round as shown and flatted on one side at about the center of its length to receive the end of a strong spring 10 which preferably surrounds the screw 8 and is thus held in position. The round ends of the bar 9 have hearings in the side plates A allowing it to roll slightly as the screw 8 is adjusted and the under shoulder of the screw head is slightly crowning to accommodate itself to the swing of the dog D. By means of the parts just described, I am enabled to retreat the dog D entirely below the working surface of the chain as in Fig. 3, and when it is again needed the spring 10 returns it as the screw is released. At the same time when it is desired to aline opposite dogs from chain to chain, the eccentric 2 will adjust either or both dogs longitudinally until the alinement is exact.

I have described the connecting links B and joint pins 0 as being hardened steel for durability, but it is also necessary that some means of lubrication be provided and also that such means shall be accessible for observation and attention. Inasmuch as the work ing face of such chains is generally exposed to receive the material to be worked, I provide oil or grease pockets 11, Figs. 1 and 2, which are preferably formed by drilling in from the face of the link B at a point to meet the bearing of the joint pin C tangentially and communicate with such bearing whereby the lubricator can reach the joint pin. If oil. is used, a closing plug 12 can be used to re-. tain the oil: if grease is used the plug 12 can be a follower threaded into the pocket so as to follow up the grease and push it into the hearing as it is consumed.

I am aware that feeding chains have been made up of side links and central connecting links with joint pins or rivets, but none of these meet the conditions specified above.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a feeding chain, a retreating feeding dog, means for retreatmg and returning it to working position, and means for adjusting it longitudinally on the chain, for the purposes set forth.

2. In a feeding chain, a retreating feeding dog, swinging upon an adjusting eccentric, and means for adjusting the latter circumferentially, whereby the relative longitudinal position of the dog on the chain can be fixed as required. j

3. In a feeding chain a retreating feeding dog, pivoted between the parallel sides of a main link, a screw arranged to depress the dog below the working surface of the chain,

and means for pushing the dog intoworking position when the screw is reversed.

4:. In afeeding chain, a retreating feeding dog pivoted upon the side plates of a main link, an adjusting screw for swinging the dog, a nut pivoted in the main link, all cooperating substantially as described.

5. In a feeding chain, a retreating feeding dog pivoted upon the sideplates of a main link an ad'ustin screw to swin the do a 7 a: a pivoted nut torecelve the screw and a spring between the dog and the nut, operating to return the dog to working position.

for depressing said feeding dog below the working surface of the chain, means for elevating' the dog to working position, an eccentric pivot supporting the dog, means for adjusting said eccentric circumferenti ally and suitable connecting links, all. operating conjointly for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination with a chain link of a retreatable and adjustable feed dog secured thereto and adjustable rotatable means for positively actuating said dog to vary the operating height thereof. a

9. The combination with a chain link of a, retreatable feed dog secured thereto and adjustable both longitudinally and vertically within the chain link. i 1

10.. The combination with a chain link of a retreatable feed dog pivotally secured thereto and bodily adjustable with its pivot to different operating heights.

11. The combination with a chain link of a pivot spanning the sides of the link and a retreatablefeed dog journaled on the pivot between said sides, and aseparable bearing between the pivot and dog to enable the lat- 'ter to be removed without removal of the pivot or the sides of the link.

12. The combinationwith-a chain link of a retreatable feed dog secured thereto, a"

spring biasingsaid dog to an upward position, and an adjustable stop in cooperation with the dog to control the height thereof. FRANK H. CLEMENT. Witnesses:

C. S. RIOI-IMAN,

R. W. BoswoRTH. 

